Machine tool



Nov. 8, 1949' YEOMANS ET AL 2,487,289

' MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 24, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 fizzle/22 cm 22 012) zyeowcma y/72' and @ge A W M, by!

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Nov. 8, 1949 L. l. YEOMANS ET AL 2,487,289

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 O J57 g WW CHM,

Nov. 8, 1949 1.. l. YEOMANS ET AL 2,487,289

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 24, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 i NVENTO was okalcz'e)? I. Q/eowaw-s gag/ and /9. 653 0 57 P Wm, flx w from Noir. 8, 1949 L. l. YEOMANS ET AL 2,487,289

MACHINE TOOL Filed Sept. 24, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Was came)? I fyeomams )agmomz A Jrge A FM M (fl'rTo Qqgys l YEOMANS ET AL 2,487,289

' Nov. 8, 1949 MACHINE TOOL '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 2.4, 1943 I [lave/222m oaicz'erz f ge0mans Qagpywya' y/ye E WW owe/1,, 1P

Nov. 8,' 1949 L. l. YEOMANS ET AL MACHINE TOOL 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Sept. 24, 1945 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UN 11 12.1) STATES Application September 24, 1943,.SetiaLNnn5li3 G3ll .This invention relates generally to machine tools such as .planers .andmilling machines having .long work sullpor'ting tables which are 'arranged forilongitudinal reciprocation.

The general object of the present invention is n to ,provide amacliine .tpol embodying aynovel and improved drive mechanism {for reciprocating its worksiipnoiitingtable.

I-More ,particulafily, -it .Iis an .plo'iect of the invention Ito protide .a .machine tool Ihaving va :longi- .tudinally .reciprccable work supporting table whichlis sectionalized, together with a .novel varrangement .for driving .such a sectionalized table.

.AJXIDIB detailed object is to provide a multiple drive for .a reciprocating worktable combined .Withnovel .means for distributing Lthedrivingiforce.

.Other objects andadvantages of the invention .will become .apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompamiingdrawingsin which Figure .1 is .a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the tableland toolsupporlting vcolumnsnf a machine tool embodying the novel features of the present invention.

2 isia itragmentaryplan .view .ofithe table.

.Eig. .3 is .a partial section :taken along the line '3-.3-of.Eig..1.

Big. A .is anienlarged .viewof -.a portion. of Rig. .2.

.Fzigs. i5 .and .6 .are fragmentary sectional views taken .along the lines 5-5 .and iii-:6 respectively Big. .7 .is .a vfragmentary perspective view .of ,a key for locking the .tablesections together.

.tahle .drive mechanisms.

Big. .19 is .a fragmentary perspective ,view .of a part of the mechanism for .tensioning the table drive chain.

ways, we have illustrated infthedrawings and-will describe here in detail ithe preterred embodiment and method. It is :to be --understood, however, that we do not intend to ;limit the -inventiqmby such-specificdisclosure but aim'ftozcover all'modifications, alternative 'constructionamethods, and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, "the invention is embodied "for .LQ purposes of -illustrationin -a'machinetoolhazving is As a preliminaryto'a.ridescriptionotfrthe.exenr plan,

table drive mechanismifor theiillus'tratedmachine tool embodying the pr sent. invention. the table itself and its su porting .bed. structure will Joe described- ;It is to The unclerstoodshowev r that 520 the table per se :forms the .suh'iecmmatter .of our copending application :Serial .No. 16 x551, ,fileli .July 31945,, (and new FEatent No. 631., anted Apr '5, ziesaias :a nivisionotf thism sent application, and that the arrang m nt i101 snid- .26 mg and..supnorting the table lhereinsshoyvn constitutes the subject matter of our appending application Serial .No. "filliflidz, filed July 12, 395: and now .Pa'terit 231331655, ranted .29, 1947,..asa divisions:ithegnresentapplication.

an top of the ;tab .is Tsslottediin the usual 'MZHYQFQ permit the clamping :theneto of workpieces which are machined Iby .too'ls imoiinted iiniheads .9 .which are .iefd vertically ialong ways 3 .on columns .4 mr along a .crossrail .in the lease of pertain types .of

.Eig. Sis a fragmentary;.plan view of oneof ,the milling machines.

J10,facilitateshinmentlandjmal assembly without material machining of .the parts, the Coed 231s divided Jlooth laterally and longitudinally of .the direction of table travel ,into separate -.seotions 5 .Fig. is.a fragmentary--.elevationa1 .viewshowand 51in the IDKmiQf hollows-cas in s ribhed poth ingithe mannenof connectingtheactuatingchains .to.the table.

Figs. .11 .and v.12 show the piping ior the table chaintensionin mechanisms.

laterally and-longitudinally. illhesetitericr liter mediate ,seetions ;5 are arran ed end to tend-fend are .cast with a top wall fhhavingilaterallytspaced downwardly icomergin mentions. D wardil Eig...1-3 isairontleleyational yiewof the set-op 4-5 opening .grooyes .ILQ, :Eig. 13, "of generally semi for machining the .table ways.

j-Fig. 14 .is a side view of the mechanism shown imEig. 13..

While .the invention is susceptible -.of various circular crosses ction tare mast iin the erection :5. these grooms being spaced iinvcardly .ifirem ith wertical side wallstliof thase tion. gilherseetions .6 are arran d end tor-end "along the isides Ail of modifications .and .may be practiced in various the iintermediateisectiensahiust ioiitmfiedgewise abutment with the latter and out of longitudinal abutment with each other. Each has a generally fiat-top wall formed with laterally spaced upstanding ribs intermediate its sides. Alon the outer side is a depressed portion |8 which alines with the corresponding portions of the row of sections 6 to form a trough extending the full length of the bed.

The rigid bed structure 2 may be formed at the location where the machine tool is ultimately to be used, and this, without preliminary machining of the surfaces of the castings 5 and 6 prior to their assembly and anchorage to the foundation I2 at said ultimate location. To form the bed, two side rows of the sections 6 and one intermediate row of the sections 5 are arranged on the foundation and grouted in place with their rough sides and ends separated by narrow gaps l3 so as to avoid interference between the roughly cast surfaces. The gaps between the side sections 6 in each row are filled so that the trough formed by depressed portions I8 is capable of retaining aliquid.

After such final and rigid assembly of the bed sections, two horizontal surfaces l5 and two converging surfaces IB are machined on the sections 5 and 6 respectively throughout the length of the bed. These support the side and intermediate portions of the table-for longitudinal reciprocation of the latter, the surfaces It also serving to guide the table laterally. Formation of these surfaces with the required precision may be effected by the temporary tool set-up shown in Figs. 13 and 14. In this, tool heads l9, which may be the ones to be used in the final machine tool assembly, are mounted to slide along ways 24 on a rail which is secured to the front of a carriage 2| (Fig. 14). On opposite sides and at opposite ends, the carriage is supported by pivots 22 on elongated shoes 23 which are adapted to slide along temporary guide surfaces 25 formed by solidifying bodies 26 of liquid in the troughs. Preferably, the liquid is water which may be frozen by circulating refrigerant through a coil 28. The guide surfaces 25 are thus formed perfectly level without the necessity of preliminary machining of any of the parts of the bed structure. The shoes 23 and the bodies of ice are maintained at the freezing temperature by circulating refrigerant through coils 27 and 28.

To guide the tool carriage 2| laterally, hardened blocks 29 on arms 30 depending from the rail bear against hardened bars 3| which are supported by fillings 32 of babbit or the like cast into the grooves Ill. The fillings are cast while the bars 3| are supported by temporary means with the outer guide surfaces perfectly parallel. These guides also'are formed on the bed without the necessity of any machining of the bed castings.

Any suitable tools 33 and 33 may be employed for machining the ways 15 and I6, planer tools being shown herein and mounted on the heads I 9. By manipulating suitable screws 34, the tool 33 may be fed along the rail and may be advanced at the proper angle relative to its supporting head. To form the other surface IS, the angle of the feed of the tool 33' is of course reversed. Movement of the carriage 2| back and forth along the bed to machine the ways may be efiected by power derived from a reversible motor 35 mounted on the carriage and operable through reduction gearing to drive a drum 36 around which, together with an idler drum 31, a cable 38 is extended with its ends anchored to opposite ends of the bed. After preliminary machining of ways l5 between the ribs I! and both of the ways Hi, all of the ways are scraped and finished in the usual Way.

The table is also of sectional construction and is built up on the bed structure after the latter has been constructed and machined as above described at the final location where the machine tool is to be used. The table is composed of two rows of side sections 40 arranged on opposite sides of a row of intermediate sections 4|, the sections of each row being arranged end to end longitudinally of the table and preferably are separated sufiiciently (see Figs. 2 and 4) to avoid the necessity of machining the adjacent surfaces of the castings.

The bottoms of the intermediate sections 4| complement the ways l6 and for this purpose are cast with a depending longitudinal rib 42 whose inclined sides are machined accurately to the same V-shape as the ways l6 into which the ribs fit. The sections thus supported are held effectually against lateral displacement during their sliding movement.

Along its outer margin, each side section 40 is supported on one of the bed ways l5 over two flat areas defined by the bottom surfaces 43 of generally circular buttons 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) projecting from the bottom of the section adjacent the outer edges of the latter and mounted on the section for some degree of universal movement whereby to permit the buttons to adapt themselves automatically to the bed ways. Herein, the upper portions 45 of the buttons have peripheries machined to a slightly spherical contour and fitting in the internal bore of annular flange 45 cast on the bottom of the table section. To provide the universal connection, the space between the closed end of the bore and the button is filled with a yieldable or flowable material such as readily pliable synthetic rubber in the form of a layer 41 separated from the button by a thin metal disk 48 that fits closely in the bore. In this way, the weight of each section is sustained by the non-compressible material and is distributed uniformly over the bottom surfaces of the buttons without the necessity of locating the latter accurately by preliminary machining.

Along their inner edges, the side sections 40 are supported by the center sections 4|. For this purpose, the upper half portion 50 (Figs. 1 and 5) of the side wall on the section 40 projects beyond the lower portion of this section, and similarly, the lower portion 5| at the side of the center sections All projects beyond the upper portion so as to underlie the portions 50. Preferably, the laterally facing surfaces of all four of these portions are machined accurately as to lateral spacing and parallelism so as to fit against each other in abutting edge to edge relation as shown in Fig. 1 and indicated at 50*. This relation is maintained by upper and lower rows of tie bolts 52 extending transversely through the sections 40 and 4! of the three rows.

The side and center sections are locked together in a novel manner by casting a key 53 (Fig. 7) in spaces formed between squared projections 54 depending from the edge portions 50 of the sections 40 and similar intervening projections 55 upstanding from the underlying portions 5| of the sections 4|, each projection on one part being smaller than the notch on the other part into which it projects thereby forming horizontal and vertical spaces in which horizontal parts 56 and 51 and vertical parts 58 of thehkey '53. are'zformed. The?lcttersalsoaincludes azpart fiihconnecting theepartsiifioniionee side of: the key as shown in Fig. 7. Thus, theaportions'filt of the '.sectionsi 4fliiarmsupported onrtheiportions '1 offthecenter': SQGtiOIlS -Jb-W theahorizontalw-parts 5B and '51 of the key;while thei verticaltparts '58 of P the .key 'serve .-to: 1ocli:theaaidjacent sections All and 2 41 rigidly against&re1ative'-* longitudinal; dis! placement;v The-2 parts: 59 hold the sections against-any possi-ble relative lateral displacement in the absenceof: an precise fit between the machinedr si'desof thewadjacentiseetions; Thus; the" desired supporting andf; locking: connection mayrbe-iormedtbetween the adjacentitable sections without '5 the. necessity off machining the roughly -ca'st surfaces of the interlocking pro-- jectlons=5fl and 55 and' simply by pouring molten type metal into the space'"while thetsections are held in the proper relationship;

In':assemb1ing the table, thercentral sections--44 are :placed on theways I fi with their ends spaced apart to insure run support -of each section solely Joy-these Ways. Next, the side' sections are placed on the bed with i theiri buttons M resting. on the surfaces I 5 The innerrmargins *of' thesesections are :temporarily supported on the center "sections by screws=60'=(Figs1 2'; 4; 5'; and 6) which thread through vertical holes 1 in the overlying portions 50 with their lowerends bearing on' the top surfaces of theprojections: 55? The'upper and'lower rows of the tie bolts 5Z -are then extended"transversely of the table" through the three rows of sections andtight'en'ed The levelling'screws 60 are adjusted as i may- -be' requiredzin order "to' permit the machined edge surfaces. or" thesections to come. into' fullcontacvas the-ports 1 are finallytightened;- Now; all of i the sectlons will be fully supported from the ways" IB-and Hi and in the exact relation they are to" occupy?" in the final table assembly. Afterplugging" the" ends" of the spaces'between the seotions-of eachrow and other poi-ntsfrom which liquidmight escape; moltentype metal is poured into" the keyspaces filling the same and' flowin'g'into all of the other inter connected spaces-toform-fillings 63 between the sections I in each row," The" two unitary Keys 53 which are thus formed extend" throughout the length of the table; and all sections of the three rows become locked together in a manner to resistrelativemovementbetween the sections in any direction under'applled compressive stresses. The bolts 52holdthe sectionsagainst lateral separation.

At ztheirrends; the three rows of sections 40 and M are connected by rigid castir'rgs lll extending across the ends: and. fastened: thereto by cap screws 62. To hold the sections of each row against longitudinal separation and, provide means by which a driving forc 'may bet applied to the-table-, twopairs-of-barsfif (Figs;.1,\2, 3, and 10') extend longitudinally of the: table beneath the inner edge portions "of the sections All. Attheir ends, the-bars of each" pair arersecured by-bolts 65 to brackets-66' which. abut against the table ends" and" are bolted. The spaces between the brackets and the:table;ends.are.fil1ed with type metaI'BTso' as' to avoid machiningof the-ends of thetable sections. The table constructed as abovedescribed constitutes a rigid structure which is slidable-along the :bed ways with the precision requiredl in. present day machine tools, and this, in spite of the fact that the table is divided both longitudinally and laterally into rows of comparatively small sections c? which .i are: held: together: rigidly and: accurately with; as minimum: of: preliminary machining: After the; table has i been built upi in's. this way at the'location where the'machine-tool is :to be used, its 1 top: surface may: be machined to; provide a; perfectly flat'horizontal -work:supporting surface. byusing the regular tools' cf. the machine tool. In asimilar way the usualTeslots maybeformed inthe tabletop.

In: view of the: substantial size and weight of the table, special meansiis, in accordance with the present invention, provided for moving" it back and forthalong thebed ways. Thelactuat ing' force is =applied to' the bar 6'4 therebypushing instead of pulling the table so as to avoid any tendency to'separate'the sections; In the pres-.- ent'instance, the actuating means comprises two sets-of'three'roller type chains':'|0 having oneof their ends connected by pivot pins H to tail pieces 12' projecting from the bracket'JBS- (Figs.: 2.and I0) At the other 'endfof thetable, the chain :endsare connected to the bracket: 66 through the in termediary of adjusting devices 13 to bedee scribed. later. From=these= points ofanchorage; the-chains-extend away from the-table in one din rection, around sprockets 14 (Figs- 2- andv3) then' underneath the tableand thebedthrough passages 15in the foundation,.aroundlsprockets:l6 (Fig. 8) at the other end of the-bed, and finally reversely to the second end-of the table through the tensioning devices 13. Since the chains. are not connected directly to the-tablebut instead to the-bars 64, a pull exerted by'one-end: portion of the chains will be applied asa push tothe opposite end of the table. Thus, the table: is placed under compression. as an incident to -its actuation; being adapted to withstand such stress evenvthough the sections in each row and the several: rows of sections-are connected onlyby the fillings 53 and the keys 53.

The sprockets 76 are fast on a shaft 18 jour na'led in bearings 11 beyond the-endofthe-bed. Gears on this shaft mesh-With pinions-l8 which are driven through reduction gearing" 19' by a reversible electricmotor 81! whose operation may be controlled'to regulate the direction andextent of'movement'cf the table.

The-other sprockets T4 are on ashaft 8'| 'j0ur= naked in blocks 82 which are'slidable in guideways- 83 on a base 84 (Fig; 3) fast'enedto'the foundation beyond the. end of the bed. Project ing toward the bed from these blocks are pistons 85(Figs. 3 and'll) reciprocable in cylinders 86 rigid on the base 84; Both of the cylinders are in constant communication through a. pipe. 81 with a source of fluid under pressure sufiiciently high to-maintain the chainstaut andprestress the latter to a substantial degrees In the-present instance, the pipe leads to acylinder 88 closed by apiston 89 whose rod 99 is connected to a piston 9| of substantially larger areain a cylinder 92; Compressed air from a source (not shown) is admitted to the head endof the cylinder. resulting in actuation of the piston 89 to place the fluid in both of.- the cylinders 86' under the desired pressures Both cylinders 86 being connected to the pressure source, the two sets of chainswill be maintained-taut under equal tension. Such 'prestressing'of. thechains is desirable inordertoavoidzany back lash'upon reversal of the table drive mechanism.

The bearings l-l: supporting the sprockets 16 are mounted stationarily and the sprockets are driven by separate reduction gear trains. Therefore, slight differences in the shape of the sprocket'and gear teeth through which the different chains are driven will, during movement of the table to the right asviewed in Fig. 3, tend to produce uneven distribution of the actuating force between the two chains. The devices '13 interposed as above described in the portions of the chain between the table and the sprockets I6 operate as adjustable hydraulic links to effect automatic equal distribution of the actuating force between the two chains. For this purpose, the projecting tail pieces 94 (Figs. 2, 9, and 12) of the bars 64 are connected rigidly as by keys 95 to a block 96 providing cylinders 91 in which are pistons 98. The projecting end 99 of the latter bears against a block I rigid with bars which are connected to the first chain pivot I02 by a link I03. There is a pair of cylinders 97 for each set of chains and the closed ends of the cylinders of one pair communicate with those of the other pair through a pipe I04 (Figs. 2 and 12) forming a closed system which is filled with liquid. In view of the non-compressibility of the liquid, any increase in tension developing in one set of chains will increase the fluid pressure in the associated cylinders causing a transfer of fluid to the cylinders on the other side of the machine until the pressure in all four of the cylinders is equalized and all of the chains are stressed equally. Thus the devices 13 coacting with the preloading pistons and cylinders 85 and 86 insure uniform division'of the table actuating force between the chains of the two sets under all conditions and in spite of manufacturing inaccuracies.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention greatly facilitates the construction of machine tools by minimizing the machine work required, and by enabling large size tables and bed structures to be constructed in sections that may be shipped and handled easily and assembled at low cost in the final location where the machine tool is to be used.

We claim as our invention:

1. A machine tool having, in combination, a table mounted for endwise reciprocation, two laterally spaced sprocket chains having opposite ends connected to said table and providing elongated loops disposed beneath the table, sprockets meshing with said chains beyond opposite ends of said table, power driven means for rotating certain of said sprockets to move the table back and forth, mechanisms for tightening the chains individually and each including a cylinder containing fluid and a piston therein developing a force acting outwardly on said loops, and a common source of pressure fluid communicating with said cylinders and operable through the latter to maintain the chains equally preloaded.

2. A machine tool having, in combination, a table mounted for endwise reciprocation, two laterally spaced sprocket chains having opposite ends connected to said table and providing elongated loops disposed beneath the table, sprockets meshing with said chains beyond opposite ends of said table, power driven means for rotating certain of said sprockets to move the table back and forth, a hydraulic link connection of variable length interposed in each of said loops and comprising a fluid filled cylinder and a piston movable therein to compress the fluid when the chain is placed under tension, and means providing a closed fluid connection between said cylinders,

. 8 said means being adapted to permit equalization of the forces applied to said chains by said power driven means.

3. A machine tool having, in combination, a table mounted for endwise reciprocation, two laterally spaced sprocket chains having opposite ends connected to said table and providing elongated loops disposed beneath the table, sprockets meshing with said chains beyond opposite ends of said table, power driven means for rotating certain of said sprockets to move the table back and forth, an equalizing device interposed in each of said chains, and force transmitting means interconnecting said equalizing devices to effect even distribution of the tension applied to each of said chains by said power driven means.

4. A machine tool having, in combination, a table mounted for endwise reciprocation, two laterally spaced sprocket chains having opposite ends connected to said table and providing elongated loops disposed beneath the table, pairs of sprockets meshing with said. chains beyond opposite ends of said table, power driven means for rotating certain of said sprockets to move the table back and forth, means supporting one of said pairs of sprockets to float longitudinally of said table, hydraulic actuators acting outwardly of said loops and on the respective floating sprockets to tighten the chains individually, and a common means for energizing said actuators to preload said chains equally.

5. A machine tool having, in combination, a table mounted for endwise reciprocation, two laterally spaced sprocket chains having opposite ends connected to said table and providing elongated loops disposed beneath the table, pairs of sprockets meshing with said chains beyond opposite ends of said table, power driven means for rotating certain of said sprockets to move the table back and forth, means supporting one of said pairs of sprockets to float longitudinally of said table, hydraulic actuators acting on the respective floating sprockets to tighten the chains individually, a common means for energizing said actuators to preload said chains equally, and devices interposed in the chains between the other pair of sprockets and the table and interconnected to maintain the associated chain ends tensioned equally.

LUCIEN I. YEOMANS. RAYMOND P. FRYE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,189,675 Fageol July 4, 1916 1,218,044 Todd Mar. 6, 1917 1,309,384 Yeomans July 8, 1919 1,859,025 Chace May 17, 1932 1,888,309 Cramer Nov. 22, 1932 1,913,975 Coe June 13, 1933 2,181,185 Ives Nov. 28, 1939 2,317,734 Cook Apr. 27, 1943 2,363,383 Bertoldo et al Nov. 21, 1944 2,376,929 Madsen May 29, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,143 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1890 

